Container and applicator for small articles



Nov. 21, 1950 s. E. PATE CONTAINER AND APPLICATOR FOR SMALL ARTICLES Filed Sept. 10, 1949 FIG. I.

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v INVENTOR. SHERMAN E. PAVE Patented Nov. 21, 1950 CONTAINER AND APPLICATOR FOR SMALL ARTICLES Sherman E. Pate, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Permo, Incorporated, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 10, 1949, Serial No. 114,973

Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to containers or packages for small articles of manufacture and more particularly to packages or containers for phonograph needles and the like, each of which packages or containers embodies as part of its structure an applicator or holder for the convenient insertion of the phonograph needle or like article.

Phonograph needles until recently were of such size that they could be conveniently handled and readily inserted by the fingers in transducers which usually were provided with a needle retaining thumb screw projecting outwardly from theend of the tone arm. Recent commercial developments in fine groove or micro-groove recordings have imposed mass and size limitations on the movable elements in a transducer for reproducing the records. As a result many of the new needles have diameters as small as .007 inch, lengths as short as .250 inch and playing points having a radius in the order of .001 inch. The means for fastening these needles in the reproducer is usually in the underside of the tone arm, hence replacement of the needles is difficult and because of their small dimensions there is great possibility of distortion or damage to the needles during shipping, handling and replacement.

A solution to the above shipping and handling problem is found in the combination container and applicator hereinafter described.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a package or container for a phonograph needle, which container contains a readily removable applicator for precisely inserting the needle in a transducer.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combination package and applicator which inherently protects the playing point from damage in shipping and handling, including an applicator for the insertion of the needle in the transducer.

1 These and other objects in three embodiments of the invention are shown and described in the following specification .and drawing in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the end of a typical tone arm showing a microgroove needle secured in proper playing position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a card-like package containing a needle retained in an applicator.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the applicator and needle shown Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of an alternate form of card-like package of which the applicator retaining the needle is an integral part.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken through line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a cylindrical container in which the applicator containing the needle forms a stopper therefor.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the container taken through section line l'l, Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 1 the cross-sectional view of a typical tone arm I shows a small micro-groove needle 2 secured in transducer 3 by a small binding-post type nut 4. The replacement of the needle 2 in the under side of the tone arm is relatively diflicult to accomplish largely because of the relatively small size of the needle itself.

The container shown Fig. 2 is preferably made from a paperboard card 5 having a rectangular aperture 6 pierced therethrough. A rectangular applicator 1, preferabl made of relatively rigid material such as metal, paperboard, balsa wood, or the like, is dimensioned for a pressed fit into the aperture 8 after the needle 2 is inserted point end first into the end of the applicator with the shank portion of the needle projecting therefrom. Thus the needle is retained in the applicator with the shank end positioned in the open portion of the aperture as shown. The needle ma be retained in the applicator by many well known means such as friction alone or a small drop of suitable cement. The card 5 may also serve a dual purpose by providing space, shown in dotted lines, for printed replacement instructions. The container is completed by complete enclosure in a transparent film like cellophane for fully protecting the needle held therein.

It is apparent from the enlarged view Fig. 3 that the end of the applicator i may be grasped between thumb and forefinger for convenient insertion of the projecting needle shank into the transducer of the general type shown Fig. 1. When the needle is secured by the fastening means in the transducer the applicator is merely pulled from the needle, thus the user is assured that the playing point of the needle is properly positioned and undamaged.

Referring to the alternate container shown Fig. i, a rectangular paperboard card 5 has an integral applicator la outlined by semiperforations 8 on three sides. The exposed edge of the applicator la and a clearance cavity for the needle shank are provided by shearing and depressing a portion 9 of the paperboard card 511, better shown in the enlarged cross-sectional view Fig. 5, which shows the needle 2 inserted point end first into the exposed end of the applicator M. It is apparent that the applicator a'a may be readily broken away from the card along perforations 8 for use. As in the form shown Fig. 2, the card is intended to be enclosed in a film such as cellophane to complete the package. with in-;

structions for replacement imprinted in the spaces on the card shown by dotted lines.

A second alternative form of container is shown in Fig. 6 in which a cylindrical container I is provided and a stopper applicator H is retained by friction in the open end of the container. The applicator is provided with an integral concentric elongated portion [2 into the end of which the needle 2 is inserted and held by friction as shown. The applicator may -be made of suitable rigid material such as balsa Wood, hard cork, or the like. The cross-sectional view Fig. 7 shows the relative positions of the container, applicator and needle. Suitable instructions may be afilxed to the outer surface of the container and it is apparent that when the applicator l I is removed a convenient means is provided for the insertion of the needle 2 in a transducer.

Since it is important for the user to know that the needle retained in a container is an original factory inspected replacement part and has not been used or handled since delivery the containers above described lend themselves to well known sealing means as a safeguard against substitution or refilling.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. In combination a phonograph needle and a holder and applicator therefor comprising an elongated fibrous member, a needle the playing end of which is 'frictionallylheld and supported by displacement of the fibrous material in one end thereof, the other end of said needle forming an extension of the longitudinal axis of the member, and a protector means for said other end of said needle, said needle protector means comprising a member extending at least on two 'sides and across the said other end of said needle and in fixed relation thereto, and means for mutually'supporting said elongated fibrous'mem her in a fixed position with relation to and in detachable engagement with, said needle protector means.

2. In combination a phonograph needle and a holder and applicator therefor comprising an elongated fibrous member, a needle the playing end of which is frictionally held and supported by displacement of the fibrous material in one end thereof, the other end of said needle forming an extension of the longitudinal axis of the member, and a protector means for said other end of said needle, said protector means comprising a card-like member having an aperture therethrough, the axis of said aperture extending at least on two sides and across the said other end of said needle and in fixed relation thereto, and means for manually supporting said elongated fibrous member in a fixed position with relation to and in detachable engagement with said needle protector means, whereby said applicator may be manually removed from said protector means and used for a handle to manually position the exposed end of said needle into accurate placement when removed from said elongated fibrous member.

3. In combination a phonograph needle and a holder and applicator therefor comprising an elongated fibrous member, a needle the playing end of which is frictionally held and supported by displacement of the fibrous material in one end thereof, the other end of said needle forming an extension of the longitudinal axis of the member, and a protector means for said other end of said needle, said protector means comprising a card-like member having an aperture therethrough, the axis of said aperture extending at least on two sides and across the said other end of said needle and in fixed relation thereto, and means for manually supporting said elongated fibrous member in a fixed position with relation to and in frictional engagement with said needle protector means, whereby said applicator may be manually removed from said applicator means and used for a handle to manually position the exposed end of said needle into accurate placement when removed from said elongated fibrous member.

4. In combination a phonograph needle and a holder and applicator therefor comprising an elongated .fibrous member, a needle the playing end of which is frictionally held and supported by displacement of the fibrous material in one end thereof, the other :end of said needle forming an extension of the longitudinal axis of the member, and a protectormeans for said other end of said needle, said protector means comprising a card-like member having an aperture therethrough, the axis of said aperture extending at least on two sides and across thesaid other end of said needle and in fixed relation thereto, and means for manually supporting said elongated fibrous member in a fixed position with relation to and in detachable engagement'with said needle protector means, whereby said applicator may be manually removed from said protector means and used for a handle to manually position the exposed end of said needle into accurate placement when removed from said elongated fibrous member, said elongated fibrous member forming part'of said card, and a series of perforations forming an outline of said elongated fibrous member.

5. In combination a phonograph needle'and-a holder and applicator therefor comprising an elongated fibrous member, said holder and applicator having an enlarged end and reduced end, a needle the playing end of Which is frictionally held and supported by displacement of the fibrous material in said reduced end thereof, the enlarged end of said needle forming an extension of the longitudinal axis of the member, and a protector means for said enlarged end of said needle, said needle protector means comprising a member extending on all sides and across the said enlarged end of said needle and in fixed relation thereto, and means for mutually supporting said elongated fibrous member in a fixed position with relation to and in detachable engagement with said needle protector means.

SHERMAN E. FATE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 331,719 Kuickmann Dec. 1, 1885 1,143,276 Hughes June 15, 1915 1,350,294 Brown et a1. Aug. 24, 1920 1,599,881 Eisele Sept. 14, 1926 1,813,812 Molkenthln July 7, 1931 2,219,183 Hartnett et al Oct. 22, 1940 2,309,500 Clayette Jan. 26, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 459,530 Great Britain Jan. 11, 1937 

